Letters: Trump violates Hatch Act on trip

Trump violates Hatch Act on trip

I was in the Navy when Eisenhauer was president and later spent 30 years as a federal employee. During that time the Office of Personnel Management made it clear to me and other federal employees the importance of the Hatch Act—which makes clear the consequence of promoting political views. The act ensures that federal employees are advanced based on merit rather than political affiliation.

Even though there are some exemptions for the president and vice president under the Hatch Act — all presidents (Democratic and Republican) I served under never attacked their opposition while performing their official duties. That is certainly not the case with the current president.

At a U.S. military base in Iraq on Christmas day, Trump signed MAGA hats, attacked Nancy Pelosi (minority House leader) by name for not supporting his Mexican wall, said that former presidents were weak when it came to Mideast policy and claimed that the troops recently received a 10 percent raise (not true).

To me, Trump sounds like an Latin American dictator who has his own Army. When I joined the military and went to work for the government, I swore an oath to the Constitution — not a president or political party. There could be serious future consequences to this aberration of political norms.

Paul O’ Connell

Las Cruces

Shutting down wrong government

Trump said that he would be proud to shut down the government if the Democrats do not fund the border wall. During the campaign Trump promised that the Mexican government would pay for the wall.

So, if the wall is not getting funded shouldn't Trump be shutting down the Mexican government? Or was he lying when he said that Mexico would pay for the wall?

Frank Belyan

Las Cruces

Agrees with letter about traffic mess

I couldn't agree more with Diane Greenholt in today's S-N. What a godawful mess they have made of Avenida de Mesilla and parts of Valley Drive!

Who decided that work should be done simultaneously on Avenida de Mesilla in two different sections separated by only about 3/8 of a mile? I have waited three turns of the light to get through the intersection of Avenida de Mesilla and Valley. I now avoid that intersection like the plague!